COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball finished exhibition play in resounding fashion, using stifling defense and a balanced offensive attack to beat McKendree, 80-30, on Monday night at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers held the Bearcats to just 25 percent shooting, while shooting 45 percent from the field themselves to build the 50-point lead. Eleven different players scored for head coach Robin Pingeton, marking the second straight game in which at least 11 different members of the Black and Gold found the scoring column. Junior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the way, dropping 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Redshirt senior forward Kayla Michael (Cincinnati, Ohio) joined Cunningham in double figures, scoring 10 points, while also pulling down six rebounds.

Turning Point
The Tigers’ first quarter defense set the tone, as they were able to jump out to a 31-7 lead courtesy of a 22-2 run to close the frame. Mizzou came out in a full court trap, making life difficult on the Bearcats from the opening tip. The Tigers forced six turnovers in the early going, using pressure and quick hands to force McKendree into early mistakes. The turnovers led to easy offense for the Black and Gold, as the Tigers generated 10 points off of those errors. Mizzou’s stout defense held McKendree to just 25 percent shooting in the opening quarter.

Top Tigers
– Junior Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the Tigers in scoring and in rebounding, putting in 13 points and nabbing seven rebounds in just 15 minutes played.

– Redshirt senior Kayla Michael (Cincinnati, Ohio) showed off her versatility, registering 10 points on 50 percent shooting, pulling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists.

– Redshirt sophomore Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Florida) patrolled the paint all game long, registering four blocked shots during the game, which matched her career high. She last had four blocked shots against Indiana State (11/22/16).

Notes
– Mizzou scored 31 points in the first period of play, the most points in a quarter by any Tiger team in exhibition play during the Robin Pingeton era.

– Mizzou scored 48 points in the first half, just edging their performance last time out against Southwest Baptist, when the Tigers dropped 47 points.

– Frericks had two blocked shots in the game, her most since Mizzou played Texas in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. She added nine points and seven rebounds.

Up Next
The Tigers tip off the regular season Friday, playing Western Kentucky in their first game of the Hawkeye Challenge. The game starts at 2:30 p.m. CT in Iowa City, Iowa.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Preseason accolades continue to come in for Mizzou Men’s Basketball freshman forward Michael Porter, Jr. (Columbia, Mo.), as the Tigers’ highly touted newcomer was named to the 2017-18 Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List, it was announced on Monday by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

One of nine freshmen selected to the watch list from around the country, Porter’s addition to the 32-player group comes on the legs of his recognition as the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Preseason Player of the Year.

The award is to be presented to the national player of the year by its namesake at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio. Members of the USBWA’s board of directors chose the players to be included on the list as contenders for the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Widely considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit after his standout high school career, the current Tiger averaged an outstanding 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game as a senior in 2016-17 at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington. Prior to his stint in the Northwest, Porter led Father Tolton Catholic High School to Columbia’s first high school state basketball championship in 54 years as a junior in 2015-16. The 6-10 forward posted averages of 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game during that championship campaign.

Porter has additionally been named a preseason All-American by outlets such as ESPN (Oct. 23), Athlon Sports (Oct. 9), Blue Ribbon (Sept. 18) and NBC Sports (May 25).

The full watch list can be found here. All NCAA Division I players are eligible for postseason honors from the USBWA. For the ninth straight season, the USBWA will present an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week each Tuesday beginning Dec. 12.

In mid-March, the USBWA will announce its 2017-18 All-America Team and, at that time, finalists will also be chosen for the player of the year. Once finalists are announced, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest player of the year award and the only one named after a former player.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou senior S Anthony Sherrils (Kansas City, Mo.) was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, announced Monday by the league office. Sherrils had a pair of takeaways that led to scores to go along with six tackles in Mizzou’s 45-16 win over Florida last Saturday, its third consecutive win. This marks the first time that Sherrils has been honored with an SEC weekly honor in his career.

Sherrils recovered a muffed punt early in the first quarter against the Gators. Three plays later, Mizzou found the endzone to gain a lead that it did not relinquish. In the second quarter, Sherrils jumped a route and perfectly timed Florida QB Malik Zaire for an interception on an out-route. It was his first interception this season and third in his career. Mizzou’s offense promptly turned that pick into seven points with a Larry Rountree III touchdown run on the ensuing drive.

In the third quarter with Mizzou on top 28-6 and Florida knocking on the door on its first possession out of halftime, Sherrils again made a great play. On first and goal from the two-yardline, Sherrils broke through the right side and blew up a Lamical Perine run, likely saving a touchdown. Florida was forced backwards on the next two plays and was forced to kick a field goal as Mizzou began to run away with the game.

Mizzou will honor Sherrils and 17 other seniors Saturday at Memorial Stadium as it takes on Tennessee in big SEC East showdown. The game will kick at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 1550 AM.

— Mizzou Athletics —